WALKERS in Burley-in-Wharfedale are being invited to the Annual General Meeting of the village’s Walkers are Welcome group to hear about the activities of the group over the past year, and help plan the priorities for the year ahead. The AGM is being held at the Red Lion in the village at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 10. Danny Jackson, manager of Bradford Countryside Services will be giving a presentation about the work of his team in looking after public rights of way across the district, including his team’s response to damage to footpaths and bridges caused by the widespread flooding during the Christmas 2015.

David Asher, chair of the group said: "We have had a very busy year this year, starting with the publication in June last year of the guide to the Welcome Way, the 28 mile way marked footpath linking Burley with Baildon, Bingley, and Otley. This route, devised jointly with our neighbouring Walkers are Welcome groups has become an immediate hit with many of the walking and running groups in the area. Building three bridges recently over the boggiest sections of Burley Moor has also made the route much more accessible. During Burley Summer Festival we doubled the number of walks we provided to six, and this year plan to double it again. Another major development has been starting a monthly five mile guided walk which is open to all, including dogs. People are invited to turn up at Burley Station at 10am on the third Sunday each month and numbers have been gradually increasing to around 20, irrespective of the weather. We tend to walk the lesser known footpaths in the area and normally pull in a refreshment stop during or after the walk. Finally, we have been working to improve the condition and accessibility of footpaths in and around Burley. We are fortunate for instance in having developed a close working relationship with Bradford Countryside Services and Lower Wharfedale Ramblers who have helped us coordinate and jointly undertake installation of kissing gates to replace stiles. We are pleased that six gates will have been put in place over the past two years, some of which have been funded through donations, and hope the AGM will help us identify more potential sites for next year. Finally, we are currently working on our third leaflet of a further five circular walks from the Roundhouse and hope to publish this during the summer."

For more information about the AGM and the work of the group email Ann on: burleywalkersarewelcome@gmail.com, or visit their website www.waw-burleywalkersarewelcome.org/